Old wives' tale or science?

Rach21 · January 2014

I'm trying to lose 20 lbs to be at a healthier BMI before we get preggo. I'm still charting, but just using CM and stuff like that until we dive back into the TTC ocean. At my last weigh-in, the gal was making chit-chat with me and she mentioned that my file says my weight loss goals include getting ready for another baby. I said, "Yep, I have 3-year-old boy right now. I'll be happy with anything, but I'd like for my DH to have a little girl to spoil him." She proceeds to tell me that I can make sure I have a girl because male sperm is faster than female sperm, but female sperm lasts longer in a woman's body. So if I want a girl, I would need to DTD two or three days before ovulation, and if I want a boy to do it on the day of ovulation. She said it was all science. Is this true, or this just an old wives' tale?

missnacholover · January 2014

sigh.

Irishcurls · January 2014

Seriously, how has this been asked three times in three days?

ngolimento · January 2014

No. It's 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000% bullshit.

ngolimento · January 2014

Fuck it, should I just write an article for a sticky?

jcsumm0 · January 2014

This is seriously the 3rd time this has been asked in 24 hours.

soccer4us2013 · January 2014

What in the flying fuck! Why are we being asked this same damn question over and over and over this week?!?!!?!!?

You have a 20% chance of conception each cycle, with a 50% shot for a boy, 50% for a girl. Most of us on this board will be happy with a baby, period...no matter the gender.

And this, because I have to....

Rach21 · January 2014

My bad, y'all. I didn't see the other posts. I figured it was side-eye worthy, but she kept saying, "It's just science. They've done studies to prove it."

Now I wonder about some of the other "scientific" advice she's given me...

ngolimento · January 2014

Rach21 said:
My bad, y'all. I didn't see the other posts. I figured it was side-eye worthy, but she kept saying, "It's just science. They've done studies to prove it."

Now I wonder about some of the other "scientific" advice she's given me...

What she's referring to is Shettles. Essentially a dude in the 60s decided with shaky logic that the size difference in sperm MUST be related to the chromosomes it was carrying (rather than maturity stage, which is reality). With this in mind, he ran with the idea and created fantastical ideas with absolutely no science behind it.

In the end, he 'verified' his research by 'analyzing' his fanmail. For real, fanmail.

AngeliaG8 · January 2014

Is the "sex is 50/50 either way" thing in the blog? If not it should be!

Rach21 · January 2014

I know it's Thursday, but my FFFC is that I've never seen HIMYM. $:\$ ">

soccer4us2013 · January 2014

MamaZEsquire said:

hehehe @soccer4us2013 your pug is reacting perfectly to this post..."la dee dee dee...someone is effing asking this question AGAIN??"

It's a combination of both, like everything else people say...I've heard it's true that there are differences between X sperm and Y sperm, but really, it does not mean that it assures you that an X sperm or a Y sperm will be the first to catch the egg.

BTW, check out HIMYM, Marshall's family has some great suggestions for gender selection. Do you have a blow-dryer handy?

LOL!! I didn't even think of it that way, but now that you mention it, HAHHAHAHA!!! Perfect!

A blow dryer!? I'm gonna have to google this....

Pintobean39 · January 2014

Rach21 said:
My bad, y'all. I didn't see the other posts. I figured it was side-eye worthy, but she kept saying, "It's just science. They've done studies to prove it."

Now I wonder about some of the other "scientific" advice she's given me...

Just curious what other "scientific advise" did she give you?

Rach21 · January 2014

Pintobean39 said:

My bad, y'all. I didn't see the other posts. I figured it was side-eye worthy, but she kept saying, "It's just science. They've done studies to prove it."

Now I wonder about some of the other "scientific" advice she's given me...
Just curious what other "scientific advise" did she give you?

Mostly about chemical balances while I'm trying to lose weight. I'm trying to lose weight through Metabolic Research Center and she's one of the ladies who works there. She was also telling me that when I'm ready to use some healthy woman cream or something like that to increase my fertility, but I'm going to check with my doc about that. My family has a pretty bad history of breast/uterine cancers and even the lowest dosage of birth control (when I was trying to take BC) would cause my breasts to swell and become very hard. For me, hormonal fertility treatments aren't really a good way to go, so if this cream that she's touting has estrogen or something in it, it probably wouldn't be a good idea.

trinitrotoluene · January 2014

MamaZEsquire said:

hehehe @soccer4us2013 your pug is reacting perfectly to this post..."la dee dee dee...someone is effing asking this question AGAIN??"

It's a combination of both, like everything else people say...I've heard it's true that there are differences between X sperm and Y sperm, but really, it does not mean that it assures you that an X sperm or a Y sperm will be the first to catch the egg.

BTW, check out HIMYM, Marshall's family has some great suggestions for gender selection. Do you have a blow-dryer handy?

I watched that episode last night. I was teasing my husband about all the things we need to start doing so we can pick our future child's sex.

ngolimento · January 2014

MamaZEsquire said:
hehehe @soccer4us2013 your pug is reacting perfectly to this post..."la dee dee dee...someone is effing asking this question AGAIN??"

It's a combination of both, like everything else people say...I've heard it's true that there are differences between X sperm and Y sperm, but really, it does not mean that it assures you that an X sperm or a Y sperm will be the first to catch the egg.

BTW, check out HIMYM, Marshall's family has some great suggestions for gender selection. Do you have a blow-dryer handy?

*****quote*****

I'm sorry, but this is incorrect and the primary myth that Shettles spread. Sperm size is determined by maturity stage of the sperm. It is completetly unrelated to the sex chromosome said sperm is carrying. This has been thoroughly debunked by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in 2008.

Irishcurls · January 2014

Peledreamsofrain said:

hehehe @soccer4us2013 your pug is reacting perfectly to this post..."la dee dee dee...someone is effing asking this question AGAIN??"

It's a combination of both, like everything else people say...I've heard it's true that there are differences between X sperm and Y sperm, but really, it does not mean that it assures you that an X sperm or a Y sperm will be the first to catch the egg.

BTW, check out HIMYM, Marshall's family has some great suggestions for gender selection. Do you have a blow-dryer handy?
*****quote***** I'm sorry, but this is incorrect and the primary myth that Shettles spread. Sperm size is determined by maturity stage of the sperm. It is completetly unrelated to the sex chromosome said sperm is carrying. This has been thoroughly debunked by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in 2008.

Yeah, think about how fucking tiny chromosomes are. For real, very small.

IronManTTGP · January 2014

I know all about Science and I know that Shettles is a big pile of crap.

LokiTTGP · January 2014

It is about to go down.

MmmPopcorn · January 2014

MamaZEsquire said:

Good to know. I don't follow much of the "gender selection" theories anyway, but I think it was back when I was in college (ahem, before 2008, 'nuff said) that my professor was talking about it. It wasn't in connection to the Shettles thing, I don't think. But TBH it was so long ago that the memory is a bit fuzzy. Thanks for the updated info

I had a bio prof in college who firmly believed in the Shettles method and talked about it in class. I remember being really surprised when I heard it wasn't legit because I pretty much believe anything this professor says to me.

kaimee27 · January 2014

OP-RUN away from this lady at the clinic. She should NOT be giving you advice on creams/meds/fertility unless she is a doctor-and it doesn't sound like she is. Next time she tries to give you advice on things that are outside of her scope of practice, smile nicely and tune her out.

missnacholover · January 2014

MmmPopcorn said:

MamaZEsquire said:

Good to know. I don't follow much of the "gender selection" theories anyway, but I think it was back when I was in college (ahem, before 2008, 'nuff said) that my professor was talking about it. It wasn't in connection to the Shettles thing, I don't think. But TBH it was so long ago that the memory is a bit fuzzy. Thanks for the updated info

I had a bio prof in college who firmly believed in the Shettles method and talked about it in class. I remember being really surprised when I heard it wasn't legit because I pretty much believe anything this professor says to me.

I took Bio of Human Sexuality and vividly recall the prof telling us that doggie style was a good position when you're pregnant. Complete with a humping motion. He looked like a 70s porn star.

It was the best.

Want a personalized experience?

Old wives' tale or science?

Re: Old wives' tale or science?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards